MAAF and Airbus Opens Whiz Kidz Laboratory

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Mobile, AL: Led by an
Airbus Group education initiative, the Mobile Airport Authority Foundation
(MAAF) has opened Whiz Kidz Laboratory, a program designed to further STEM
education along the Gulf Coast.

Airbus teamed with MAAF, Turner Supply Company, Alabama
Power Foundation, Jubilee BEST Robotics and area educators to create a workshop
space for use by classes, teachers, and academic teams to learn outside the
classroom, work on special projects and have access to tools and resources that
may not be readily available at their local schools. The workshop space is equipped with
workbenches, various hand tools, drills, a table saw, band saw, CNC machine, a
3D printer, iPad Pros, and other items identified by a core group of STEM
educators and Airbus employees.

This week Whiz Kidz hosted its first class: a group of 30
middle school and high school teachers from 19 schools in Mobile and Baldwin
Counties. In this multi-day class, the
teachers became familiar with the tools, techniques, equipment and supplies
required to assemble six fully-functioning small robots and prepared themselves
to lead a team of students to compete in the Jubilee BEST program this fall.

"This is part of a strategic workforce development
program. Engaging students in STEM
programming early is critical to fostering their interest in science and math,
encouraging innovation while having fun,” said Michelle Hurdle, Airbus Group
employee and MAAF board member. "The
robot is a result of the teams working together, practicing brainstorming,
using imagination, and learning in an atypical classroom with state-of-the-art
tools that are not available at all schools.
The class this week will help teachers better foster this process with
the students.”